The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 97: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ete Te, iinet Ota: es e owners se ee @ 6 ee ee ee eee, eee eee 4 == aD was holding on. On the right of the front rank, an impudent-looking minx of s girl, with an old eotton handkerchief about her head, was staring up at a window and proffering a box of matches. In the rear an older girl and a boy—both with villanously hang-dog countenances—were likewise doing their beet to excite compassion. It needed but a partially scrutinizing glance to perceive that this tribe of children could, with scarcely any de- gree of possibility, belong to those who were pass- ing themselves off es their paxents: for not between any two of them was there the slightest family similitude. There they were, alowly making ther way along the street,—singing at the top of their discordant y ‘e#; and when the song temporarily ceased, the man Whined forth the same tale he had already told to Christian—with this trifling Portsmouth for Liverpogl as the place whence he and his family had tramped up. Halfpence from the windows rattled down into the street: these were quickly snatched up by the children, who scudded about in all directions for the purpose. the man prayed “that. the Lord might bless the kind ladies and gentlemen who thus assisted a poor mechanic out of employ’—the woman dropped divers low curtseys—and then the singing recom- menced. It did not seem to strike the charitable donors as being at all strange that the poor family, though a few minutes before they had proclaimed themselves to be starving, did not at once rush off to the nearest baker’s and buy some bread. No such thing !—they went on singing away in most frightful discord—until the sudden appearance of a } , who was advancing in a manner which plainly showed that he knew the arch- impostors full well, spread dismay in their ranks. The singing ceased in s moment: and the man hurriedly said, “Come along, Bet—or that blue- bottle will precious soon blow the gaff !”—and they made a rush towards the next street, dragging the youngest children hastily along with them. Such was the spectacle which the twins beheld ; and it certainly afforded no encouraging picture of London life. It shocked the pure minds of that youthful pair to think that such im should be practised under the guise of honest poverty : for they knew that the consciousness that these things were done, must often and often prevent the really ebaritably disposed from dispensing the alms which they would otherwise bestow, and that therefore the really deserving suffered for the rascality of practised deceivers. Early in the forenoon of the following day, Christian and Christina were again in Redcross Street, at the door of the house to which their benevolent purpose brought them. The landlady made her appearance ; and the tale which she told, was as gratifying to the twins as it was almost gentleman, with a dark complexion, and wearing a cloak, had called at the house in company with a medical practitioner from the neighbourhood, about two bours after Christina left on the pre- ceding day. The medical attendant ascended to see the invalid, while the gentleman remained be- low to question the landlady. ‘What followed, had evidently been pre-arranged, and was speedily ac- complished. A hackney-coach was fetched—the THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. dying young woman was placed in —and was to her new abode, but sent the surgeon with her, placing in his hands a handful of money ere he E E provided for her—that ample funds had been placed for her benefit in the hands of the landlady, who was a kind, benevolent woman—and that poor Mary Wright herself had received Mr. Redcliffe’s assurance, delivered through the medium of worthy surgeon, that she need have care in respect to her maintenance, be well provided for. Mary learns that it was through Christina the medical man of the kindness received beautiful yowng creature with derk hair and eyes, CHAPTER XVL -INpoRA. Ir was the eighth evening after that interview between Mr. Redcliffe and the Prin Indora which has been described in a recent chapter; and we must revisit the secluded abode of that oriental lady. On this cocasion we shall find her in the drawing-room, which was furnished with a mingled sumptuousness and ing with elegance that species of boudoir where we first beheld her. mother-of-pearl, and having luxurious cushions of the same material as that which covered the otto- mans. The ornaments upon the mantel-piece, the nick-nagks upon the tables, the vases filled with flowers, or whence perfumes exhaled their fra- grance, were all of the costliest and most curious eastern description. A mellowed lustre, but quite sufficient to flood the apartment, was thrown out by superb chandeliers: a fire burnt cheerfully in the grate—and its blaze was shrouded from the eye by screens curiously painted, and the frame- work of which was elaborately as well as delicately carved. Fans, formed of the feathers of tropical birds, lay within the reach, wherescever the Princess might choose at the moment to seat herself; and a large cage, standing on a table near the window, contained within the sphere of its golden wires & dozen or #0 of birds of the mi a= eee Sie en oo = —-_ = 8 aes ow COMMIC DOO Col